Hot Bama Brown sandwich

Baumhower's, Tuscaloosa

The Hot Brown originated from the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Ky., in the mid-1920s. Hotel guests needed something to satiate their hunger after an evening of drinks and dancing, so chef Fred K. Schmidt created the sandwich as a hearty alternative to traditional late-night food. In the 1920s, sliced, roasted turkey was a rarity, usually only served at holiday dinners. Even so, the sandwich quickly became the choice of 95 percent of the customers at the Brown Hotel's restaurant.

Bob Baumhower’s homage to this Louisville creation includes tender slices of “almost-fried turkey” — seasoned turkey wrapped in foil and flash fried — served on toasted sourdough bread and topped with Blanco cheese, Parmesan cheese, mushroom beef gravy, applewood-smoked bacon and fresh, sliced tomato. A side of mashed potatoes covered in the same mushroom beef gravy completes the dish.

Baumhower's

Former University of Alabama and Miami Dolphins star Bob Baumhower opened his first restaurant in 1981. What started as a counter-service establishment soon grew to a chain of four full-service...